Assists by Girgenson and Abol in Tampa Bay’s win
In Saturday’s National Hockey League (NHL) game, in which Latvian forwards Zemgus Girgensons and Rodrigo Ābols met, the Tampa Bay “Lightning” team won a convincing victory over the Philadelphia “Flyers” with a score of 7:2. As the portal jauns.lv informs, both Latvian hockey players marked themselves with productive assists in this duel, demonstrating their contribution to the team’s performance. Girgenson helped the Lightning score a goal, while Abols assisted the Flyers.
The result of the game was already opened in the 70th second by “Lightning” forward Pontus Holmberg, scoring a goal after the passes of Zemgus Girgenson and Janni Gorda. Tampa Bay scored another goal in the first period and extended the lead to 4-0 in the second period. The only goal for the Philadelphia Flyers came in the second period when Christian Dvorak cut the deficit to 4-1. However, the Lightning quickly restored their four-goal lead, scoring on both the majority and the fifth-on-four. In the closing periods, “Lightning” continued to control the course of the game, and the result was fixed with 7:2 in favor of the guests. One of the goals also came in the final minutes when Nikita Kucherov scored in an empty net.
Rodrigo Abols spent 13 minutes and four seconds on the field in this game, making one shot on goal and scoring an assist. Abol’s stats this season are 2 goals and 6 assists in 36 games. Zemgus Girgensons, formerly of the Buffalo Sabres, has played 38 games this season, scoring 6 goals and 5 assists, averaging 14:55 minutes per game. Girgenson has played 808 NHL games, scoring 97 goals and providing 108 assists.
Goalkeepers Shilov and Merzlikin lost
On the other hand, Latvian goalkeepers Artūrs Šilovs and Elvis Merzlikins suffered losses in other NHL matches. This season is significant with the active participation of both goalkeepers in the NHL, and their performance is carefully evaluated as an important factor in the success of the teams and the potential chances of the Latvian national team in the upcoming Olympic Games.
Artur Shilov of the Pittsburgh Penguins took the loss, although he made 30 of 31 shots, shooting 96.8 percent and earning third-star honors. The only time in regular time the puck went into his goal less than two and a half minutes before the end of the third period after Yevgeniy Malkin’s shot. In general, in Shilov’s account in 2025-2026 In the season of 2018, there are 16 wins and 13 losses in 38 games, with an average of 3.19 goals per game and a 0.882 percentage of open shots.
Elvis Merzlikin and the Columbus Blue Jackets also suffered a loss. Merzlikin has played 14 games this season, in which he won 6 and lost 6, with an average of 4.04 goals per game and 0.877 percentage of open shots. He has a career record of 100 wins and 107 losses in 259 games, with a 3.25 goals-against average and a .900 field goal percentage.
The presence of Latvians in the NHL this season
This NHL season is particularly significant with the active participation of several Latvian hockey players in the league. In addition to Girgenson and Abol, this season for the first time since 2000/01. Seven Latvian hockey players have played in the NHL. Their performance is carefully monitored in Latvia, as it is a significant factor in the success of the teams, as well as in the chances of the Latvian national team in the upcoming international competitions.
General information about the players
Zemgus Girgensons was born on January 5, 1994 in Riga, Latvia. He is 193 cm tall and weighs 93 kg. In 2012, he was selected by the Buffalo Sabers with the 14th pick in the NHL draft. Rodrigo Ābols was born on January 5, 1996 in Riga, Latvia. He is 193 cm tall and weighs 93 kg. In the NHL draft in 2016, he was selected by the Vancouver “Canucks” with the 184th pick. Elvis Merzlikins was born on April 13, 1994 in Riga, Latvia. He is 190 cm tall and weighs 86 kg. He was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014. Artūrs Šilovs was born on March 22, 2001 in Ventspils, Latvia. He was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2019.
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